Ananya Panday, one of Bollywood’s rising stars, has recently grabbed attention for her role in the Netflix thriller CTRL, a dystopian film that delves into themes of artificial intelligence, the erosion of privacy, and the growing loss of autonomy in the digital age. The movie, directed by Vikramaditya Motwane, positions Ananya in a story that highlights the dangers of AI technology, raising poignant questions about the extent of control individuals still possess in an increasingly automated world.
In a promotional campaign for CTRL, Ananya shared a light-hearted yet intriguing anecdote from her personal life that caught the audience’s attention. During an interview with comedian Tanmay Bhat and the film’s director Motwane, she revealed a humorous episode involving her long-time friend Aryan Khan, the son of Bollywood icon Shah Rukh Khan. Aryan, in a playful moment, once threatened to expose some of Ananya’s personal vlogs, sparking laughter among the group.
Why Aryan Khan Threatened to Leak Ananya Panday’s Vlogs?
Reflecting on her childhood and early teenage years, Ananya shared how she had a habit of recording daily vlogs. “I used to record my daily activities and meals,” she recalled, adding that while she never posted them online, she still has those videos stored safely. During the early days of Apple’s PhotoBooth feature, she, along with her childhood friends Suhana Khan and Shanaya Kapoor, would often record funny and candid moments. However, these carefree moments became the source of some playful blackmail from Aryan.
According to Ananya, Aryan would jokingly threaten to leak the videos if they didn’t comply with his demands or carry out small tasks for him. “Back when PhotoBooth first came out, Suhana, Shanaya, and I would record stuff, and Aryan would threaten to leak the videos if we didn’t do tasks for him,” Ananya shared, laughing at the memory. She fondly labeled this experience as her “random trauma story,” a phrase that prompted comedian Tanmay Bhat to humorously remark, “Someone needs to have a word with Aryan.”
The trio of Suhana, Shanaya, and Ananya have been close friends since childhood, frequently appearing in each other’s social media posts, and the playful dynamic between them seems to have been a consistent part of their friendship. This revelation about Aryan, Suhana’s brother, only adds to the fun history shared by the group.
Ananya Panday Accidentally “Leaks” Suhana’s Number
Interestingly, Ananya also found herself in a sticky situation when she inadvertently leaked her best friend Suhana Khan’s phone number. In another promotional video released by Netflix India earlier this month, Ananya recounted how this mishap unfolded. She explained that she had been trying to FaceTime Suhana, but when Suhana didn’t answer the call, Ananya took a screenshot of the FaceTime interface and, without thinking twice, posted it to her Instagram account. What she failed to notice was that Suhana’s phone number was clearly visible in the screenshot.
“Suhana called me later, saying her number had been hacked, and I pretended not to know what had happened,” Ananya confessed. It wasn’t until someone pointed out the slip-up that Suhana discovered Ananya was the one responsible for the leak. Ananya recalled the incident with a mix of embarrassment and amusement, emphasizing how these small moments between friends often lead to amusing stories in the long run.
About CTRL
While these light-hearted anecdotes from Ananya’s life offer fans a glimpse into her off-screen persona, her work in CTRL represents a significant shift in her filmography. Directed by Vikramaditya Motwane, the film sees Ananya take on the role of Nella, a content creator who turns to AI to delete traces of her cheating ex-boyfriend from her life. However, in this dystopian narrative, the AI assistant she uses for emotional relief soon spirals out of control, leading to unsettling consequences that make Nella question the nature of her autonomy and privacy.
In a world where technology increasingly infiltrates daily life, CTRL taps into the anxieties surrounding artificial intelligence, especially the loss of personal boundaries in an ever-connected digital ecosystem. As Ananya’s character, Nella, navigates this dark and treacherous terrain, the film highlights the dangers of relying too much on automated systems for comfort, convenience, and control. The thriller serves as a cautionary tale about the future, where technology may have more power over individuals than they realize.
With its compelling storyline and Ananya’s nuanced portrayal of a young woman caught between her emotions and the cold logic of AI, CTRL has been praised for its timely commentary on contemporary digital dilemmas. As the film gains traction on Netflix, Ananya’s role in CTRL marks a notable step in her acting journey, further cementing her position as a versatile and dynamic actress in the ever-evolving landscape of Indian cinema.
In both her personal and professional life, Ananya Panday continues to surprise and entertain, whether it’s through her playful stories involving friends like Aryan Khan or her thought-provoking performances on screen.